Akihabara's history and the face of the city as seen through installed signs [Akihabara News]

Akihabara News has previously introduced various Akihabara spots.
This time, we'd like to change things up a bit and talk about Akihabara's signs and history.
Rather than focusing on the typical Japanese history of what happened in XX year, we will take a different perspective and introduce "the history of the city that is more deeply rooted in daily life," so please stay tuned.
After reading this article, you might not be able to take your eyes off the signs in Akihabara???

↓Click here for the previous article, Enjoy a Day in Akihabara for 10,000 Yen

Akihabara Tourism Plan: Enjoy a Day in Akihabara for 10,000 Yen [Akihabara News]

What is the joint project "Akihabura News"?

"Passion Conference" is a 30-minute live broadcast by Ichigo Animation that delivers various information about Akihabara.
Akihabara Base Camp is a blog and video streaming service that provides information on Akihabara stores and Akihabara-related information.
A collaborative project between two people who love Akihabara and work daily to revitalize the city!
We bring you the latest happenings in Akihabara using blogs, videos, and live broadcasts!

It's packed with information on Akihabara, from the latest news to hot spots, and more to help you enjoy Akihabara to the fullest!
You might discover a new side of Akihabara that you didn't know existed?

Check out the types of signs in Akihabara

Although the term "signboard" is used to describe a wide variety of things, there are actually many different types.
Standing signs, hanging signs, and more recently digital signage are also classified as signs.
This time, I would like to categorize the following items as signs and write about the era in which they were likely installed and the history of the surrounding area.

Various standing signs (stand signs)
Something that is placed in front of a store and has products, flyers, store names, etc. written on it.
It contains information about the restaurant and the menu.
Banners also go here.

●Wall sign
They are pasted on the entrances of shops and on the walls of buildings.
Large signs in commercial facilities are also treated as wall signs.

●Protruding signboard
A sign that protrudes sideways from the wall of a building.
Signs that stand out in large shopping districts and entertainment districts are called protruding signs.

● LCD signs (including monitors)
Displays that change at regular intervals or that keep the same content constantly lit.
Signage related and large screen displays are also LCD signs.

●Facility signboard
Signs that list historical information and locations within the facility are called facility signs.
Signs for public facilities, including those installed by wards, are also classified here.

The above are the major classifications, with separate annotations for lighting, materials, advertising purposes, etc.

A rough classification of Akihabara signs

If you look at the signs in Akihabara, you'll see that there are a huge variety.
There are signs that have been installed with various intentions, such as some that give off an old vibe that makes you wonder when they were installed, some that emphasize functionality, and some that are simply meant to stand out.
Let's first take a rough look at Akihabara's signs.

Signs that tell you about Akihabara's history

This is a signboard that provides information about Akihabara's location and history.
They can be seen in places related to historical buildings such as Manseibashi Bridge, Kanda Myojin Shrine, and Yanagimori Shrine.
The signs categorized here are signs that give you pinpointed information about the history of the spot, rather than the "history of the Akihabara area."
They are often erected near historical buildings, so they are a must-see for history buffs.

・Manseibashi Bridge historical sign

・Yanagimori Shrine (Strength Stone Group)

・Kanda Myojin Shrine Uogashi Water Shrine

Akihabara vintage signboard

First, choose a sign that gives off a sense of age.
You can find many of them on Junk Street or one block behind Chuo Street.
Many of the signs have an appearance reminiscent of the Showa to early Heisei eras, and the electric decorations use light bulbs and neon tubes.
Also, the illustrations and fonts on the signs give off an indescribable nostalgic atmosphere that can only be experienced with old signs.

・Daiichi Paper Co., Ltd. (Projecting signboard)
Founded in 15. Incorporated in 15.
The current building was newly constructed in 52, and the sign dates back to that time.

・Gohandokoro Adachi (protruding/wall sign)
Founded in 1969, this long-established restaurant has been in business since the days when there were no restaurants in Akihabara.
This photo gives a sense of history from the design of the sign and the way it has decayed.

・Beef Bowl Sambo (wall sign)
Founded in 1979, this restaurant is so famous that it is synonymous with beef bowls in Akihabara.

The signs of the other stores that line the side of it also stand out as being in keeping with Sambo's atmosphere.

・Gankawa (protruding signboard)
Founded in 1996. Their specialty is beef tendon fried rice.
This shop is so beloved that doujinshi has been created about it.

・Nankyodo Art Store (wall sign)
The exact date of its founding is unknown, but the sign and building give the impression of a long history.
During the Showa era, you could often see signs like this written in brushstrokes using black and red.

Illuminated signs (including vision systems)

We chose a sign that lights up and brightly announces the presence of the store.
The age of the sign can be determined to some extent from the design and industry of the sign.
The installation itself costs a fair amount of money, so you can tell that these are stores of a certain size that have opened in Akihabara.
They are installed together with a variety of stand signs, protruding signs, and wall signs.

・Rocket Amateur Radio (protruding sign)
Founded in 1946 as Egawa Electric Trading Company.
The company was reorganized in 1956 and changed its name to Rocket Co., Ltd. in 1965. At one time, the company had numerous stores throughout the Kanto region, but was declared bankrupt after the collapse of the bubble economy.
The operating body has changed several times, but it is now under Ekiyo Co., Ltd., and recently opened ROCKET e-cafe.

・Karaoke Pasela Akihabara Electric Town Store (wall sign)
The operating company, Newton Co., Ltd. (formerly Natural Research Institute Co., Ltd.), was established in 1986.
When it comes to karaoke in Akihabara, the first place that comes to mind is Pasela, and it was already a hot topic when I was a student.
They even have a selection of songs from obscure anime and PC games, making them a pioneer in the otaku karaoke industry.

・Island Akihabara (wall sign)
Island Co., Ltd. was founded in 1994.
Island Akihabara opened in 2004.
As is typical of Akihabara, the hall focuses on moe-style machines and is famous for placing importance on character birthdays.
I believe it is well known as one of the top halls in Japan.

・Mitsuba Vision (LCD sign)
The large screen installed at THE AKIHABARA CONTAiNER.
It opened in 2018 on the site of the former cafe and bar "PLAYER," which was famous for its hot dog character.
Collaborative events with various otaku content are held.
Inside the building, you will also find the Akihabara Information Center, run by the Akihabara Tourism Council.

In addition to the above, large screens are also installed at Yodobashi Camera, Bic Camera, Onoden, Radio Kaikan, and other stores.
We also have an article summarizing large-scale visions, so please check out the following for more information.

Ranking of large screens in Akihabara! Also introducing other signage

Looking at signs unique to Akihabara today

The city of Akihabara has many different faces.
The current trend in Akihabara is maid cafes! There are many cafes with various concepts.
With the maid cafe boom, many cosplay cafes have opened, but pure maid cafes are becoming less common.

・Orange Fantasy Land (protruding sign)
Opened in 2008.
It is one of the few old-fashioned maid cafes in Akihabara.
This maid cafe is known only to those in the know, and serves delicious tea and sweets.
The location is a little...hard to find?

・Maidreamin Main Store (standing sign)
Opened in 2008.
It is a famous store that has grown from an Akihabara maid cafe to a global maid cafe.
When asked, "What is the best maid cafe in Akihabara?", this name always comes up.

・At Home Cafe (wall sign)
Opened in 2004.
The first store will be the Don Quijote Akihabara store, and a new store, the AKIBA Cultures Zone store, will open in 2022.
This shop is also one of Akihabara's most famous maid cafes, and is famous for bringing "moe" to the public.

A while ago, shutter art by Ichigo Animation, the company that runs Jonetsu Kaigi, was on display in front of Akihabara Station.
It's a must-see to see how the Blood Lad illustration is drawn from scratch. This is also one of Akihabara's signature signs (shutters).
Check out the YouTube video below to see the production process.

Additionally, the key visual for Blood Lad is set at the crossroads of Akihabara's Chuo Dori.
Some of the signs have been replaced with original ones, but this is the main part of Akihabara.

Explore Akihabara's signs

The history of Akihabara can be broadly divided into
・Postwar reconstruction - Street vendor era
・Development as an electronics district and the era of PC home appliances
・The influx of anime culture and the era of the otaku industry
・Inbound influx ~ The dawn of con cafes
Is it something like that?
Just by looking at one sign, you can get a glimpse of Akihabara's history.
Come and see the world of signs that give you a feel for the various aspects of Akihabara, both old and new.